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Distribution and at-sea behavior of Bermudan White-tailed Tropicbirds ( Phaethon lepturus catesbyi ) during the non-breeding season

2017; Association of Field Ornithologists; Volume: 88; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/jofo.12198

1557-9263

Miguel A. Mejías, Yolanda F. Wiersma, David B. Wingate, Jeremy Madeiros,

Atmospheric aerosols and clouds

Journal of Field OrnithologyVolume 88, Issue 2 p. 184-197 Original Article Distribution and at-sea behavior of Bermudan White-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus catesbyi) during the non-breeding season Miguel A. Mejías, Corresponding Author Miguel A. Mejías mmejias@mun.ca Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9 Canada Corresponding author. Email: mmejias@mun.caSearch for more papers by this authorYolanda F. Wiersma, Yolanda F. Wiersma Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9 CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorDavid B. Wingate, David B. Wingate P.O. Box CR 86, Crawl, Hamilton Parish, CR BX BermudaNo affiliation.Search for more papers by this authorJeremy L. Madeiros, Jeremy L. Madeiros Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, P.O. Box FL588, Flatts, FL BX BermudaSearch for more papers by this author Miguel A. Mejías, Corresponding Author Miguel A. Mejías mmejias@mun.ca Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9 Canada Corresponding author. Email: mmejias@mun.caSearch for more papers by this authorYolanda F. Wiersma, Yolanda F. Wiersma Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9 CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorDavid B. Wingate, David B. Wingate P.O. Box CR 86, Crawl, Hamilton Parish, CR BX BermudaNo affiliation.Search for more papers by this authorJeremy L. Madeiros, Jeremy L. Madeiros Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, P.O. Box FL588, Flatts, FL BX BermudaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 18 May 2017 https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12198Citations: 7 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstracten The movements and behavior of many taxa of seabirds during the non-breeding season remain poorly known. For example, although studies conducted in the Pacific and Indian oceans suggest that White-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus) seldom fly more than a few thousand kilometers from nest colonies after breeding, little is known about the post-breeding movements and behavior of a subspecies of White-tailed Tropicbirds (P. l. catesbyi) that breeds on islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Our objective, therefore, was to use light-based geolocators to identify the ranges and pelagic activities of White-tailed Tropicbirds from Bermuda during the non-breeding periods in 2014–2015 (N = 25) and 2015–2016 (N = 16). Locations were estimated based on changes in light intensity across time, and pelagic activities were determined based on whether geolocators attached to leg bands were wet (i.e., birds resting on the water's surface) or dry (i.e., birds in flight). In 2014, birds spent late summer (July–September) near Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands; by mid-September, most (N = 17; 68%) birds took a direct easterly route to the Sargasso Sea. In 2015, most post-breeders (N = 15; 94%) flew east from Bermuda and to the Sargasso before the end of late summer. For both years combined, fall and winter (October–February) ranges extended as far west as North Carolina and as far east as the mid-Atlantic Ridge. In both years, all birds were located between Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands during the spring (April–May). All birds then flew north to Bermuda in both years, with variations in timing, during April and May. We also found extensive overlap in the ranges of males and females during the non-breeding season in both years. During the non-breeding season, White-tailed Tropicbirds spent 5% of night periods and 41% of day periods in flight in 2014; in 2015, birds spent 8% and 42% of night and day periods, respectively, in flight. Tropicbirds spent more time flying during the day because they hunt by day, detecting prey on the wing by sight. Overall, our results suggest that White-tailed Tropicbirds that breed in Bermuda are diurnal, nomadic wanderers that range over an extensive area of the Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding season. Resumenes Distribución no reproductiva y comportamiento en alta mar del Rabijunco común originario de Bermudas ( Phaethon lepturus catesbyi ) en el Atlántico Norte Los movimientos y el comportamiento de muchos taxones de aves marinas durante la temporada no reproductiva permanecen todavía pobremente conocidos. Por ejemplo, aun cuando estudios realizados en los océanos Pacífico e Indico sugieren que el Rabijunco común (Phaethon lepturus) rara vez vuela más de unos pocos miles de kilómetros de la colonia de nidada luego de reproducir, poco se sabe sobre los movimientos y el comportamiento post reproductivos de una subespecie de Rabijunco común (Paethon l. castebyi) que reproduce en islas del Océano Atlántico Norte. Nuestro objetivo, entonces, fue usar geolocalizadores basados en luz para identificar los rangos de distribución y las actividades pelágicas del Rabijunco común de Bermuda durante los períodos no reproductivos en 2014–2015 (N = 25) y en 2015–2016 (N = 16). Se estimaron las ubicaciones a partir de los cambios en la intensidad de luz a lo largo del tiempo, y las actividades pelágicas fueron determinadas a partir de si los geolocalizadores adheridos a las bandas de las patas estaban mojados (i.e., aves descansando en la superficie del agua) o secos (i.e. aves volando). En 2014, las aves pasaron el verano tardío (julio-septiembre) cerca de Bermuda y las Islas Vírgenes Británicas; para mediados de septiembre, la mayoría (N = 17, 68%) de las aves tomaron una ruta directa y hacia el este al Mar de los Sargazos. En 2015, la mayoría de los individuos post reproductivos (N = 15; 94%) volaron hacia el este desde Bermuda y hacia el Mar de los Sargazos antes del final del verano. Para ambos años combinados, los rangos en otoño e invierno (octubre-febrero) se extendieron hacia el oeste tan lejos como Carolina del Norte y hacia el este tan lejos como la Dorsal Mesoatlántica. En ambos años, todas las aves fueron ubicadas entre Bermuda y las Islas Vírgenes Británicas durante la primavera (abril-mayo). Todas las aves luego volaron norte a Bermuda en ambos años, con variaciones en el momento, durante abril y mayo. También encontramos extensa superposición en los rangos de los machos y las hembras durante la temporada no reproductiva en ambos años. Durante la temporada no reproductiva, los Rabijuncos comunes pasaron el 5% de los períodos nocturnos y el 41% de los períodos diurnos en vuelo en 2014; en 2015, las aves pasaron el 8% y el 42% de los períodos nocturnos y diurnos, respectivamente, en vuelo. Los Rabijuncos pasaron más tiempo volando durante el día debido a que cazan de día, detectando las presas en vuelo por medio de la vista. En general, nuestros resultados sugieren que los Rabijuncos comunes que crían en Bermuda son diurnos, nómades errantes que se distribuyen en una extensa área del Océano Atlántico durante la temporada no reproductiva. Citing Literature Volume88, Issue2June 2017Pages 184-197 RelatedInformation